Search-light for submarine observation.



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No' 89 5,355. PATENTED AUG. 4,"190a.' A. L. FARR. SEARCH LIGHT FOR SUBMARINE OBSERVATION. I APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1901. v 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- wuau to:

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- Nd. 895,355. v PATENTED AUG. 4,1903,

A.L.PARR. SEARCH LIGHT FOR SUBMARINE OBSERVATION. v

APPLIQATION IILED JUNE 21, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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" ALBERT nrann, or STONI'NGTON, MAINE.

, operation of devices of t of lamps which will appear as the description proceeds, the

., water-tight casing having a concaved refiectprovision of a search light that is adapted to 25 PATENT ()FFIQE snancrnmen'r ms, snsmimnvn onsnnvairron.

No. 885,355. 1 Application filed Iii-h g1. 1 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT L. FARR, a. citizen of the United 'States, residing at Stonington, in the county of Hancock and State of Maine, have invented new and use: ful Improvements in Search-Lights for Submarine Observation, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a search light that is especially designed for observation under water for thepurpose of observing the location of objects, the configuration of the bottom for-facilitating the piloting of a vessel, in avoidin obstructions, submarine mines, etc., and also facilitating the picking up of any object by a grappling device.

The invention has for one of its objects to improve and simplify the construction and his character so as to be comparatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture, convenient and serviceable in use and having great illuminating power.

Afurther object of the invention is the e submerged in the water for casting a light whereb objects are readily located, the search ight being provided with a plurality are so connected in circuit that the intensity of the light emitted can be varied to suit the conditions of the water.

other objectof the invention is to provide a combined search light and grapple constituting a portable device whereby objects at the bottom of the water can be located and conveniently picked up.

With these objects in view and others, as

invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement. of parts as will be more fully described herein after and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto. 'In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate certain of the embodiments of the invention, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of the combined search light and grapple. Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section of the combined observation device and search light Fig. 3 is abottom plan view of the latter, showing the lamp connections. 1

Similar reference characters are employed to designate similar parts throughout the several views. -Referring to the drawing, 1 desi nates a Sp ecifieatiion of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 4, 190a; 91w. Serial No. 380,163. jl i ing surface 2 that may be enameled or polished for increasing the reflecting power, and over'the casing is a glass or other trans arent concaved cover 3 through which the light is no emltted. On the body of the casing is a removable ring 4 which holds the glass 3 in place, a gasket 5 being-employed between.

the. ring and glass to form a water-tight joint, The casing 1 is attached to a central vertically extending stem or shank 6 which servesas a handle, whereby the search light can be conveniently handled and through the handle extends a flexible cordconductor' 7 for supplying the lam s '8, 'suitably-arranged in the casing 1. n the present instance, incandescent lamps are shown but it is obvious that any other type\may be employed'. On'the upper end of the stem is a ead'8' which serves to prevent, the stem from -acbidentally dropping out ofthe hands of the user during the manipulation of the search light. Thelamps, as well as the cord, are protected from the water so that the light can be lowered to any desired depth, it bein understood that the stem 6 is of any suital ble length. In a device of this charac ter a convenient illuminating means is pror vided especially adapted for use on small boats, since it islreadily portable and can be conveniently handled. Sin'cethe casing,1 is air-tight, it imparts a. certain buoyancy to the device so that the latter will not be heavy to handle while 1n the water and whilelifting means of grappling books. It is also to be noted that the glass 3 is bell-sha ed so that the air entrapped under the bell a so imparts a buoyancy to the device which renders the latter more easily handled and moved about in the water. In connection with a search light device ofthe foregoing construction, a grappler can be. conveniently used. This grep ler comprises a pa r of rappling books 19 t at 10c are pivoted on a heat 10 secured to the stem ,6 and each provided with teeth 11 at their pivoted ends that engage with racks 12 on the lower end of a; reciprocating rod 13 housed in the stem 6." 'The grappl ng hooks or arms 9 are thus located'below the searchlight and in the rays of the lamps so that the gripping of an object by the grappling device can be accomplished with great facility.

The upper end of the rod 13 is. provided with 110.

suitab e means for actuating it to move the grapple arms Q through the medium of the an object by 90 pinion teeth 11 and racks 12. In the pres ent illustration, the upper .endof the rod 13 is rovided with ahead 14 between which at l tn 3 head 8 of the stem 6, is a helical conipinsimi spring 15 that normally tends to hold the rod 13 raised and the 'grap. lin arms closed. By pressing down on the tree 14 and holding .the same depressed, the

" grappling arms will be extended so that the can be placed over an object to be rippe light designated generally by 16 is mountedon the lower end of a conical observationtube the observer.

17 in such a manner that the rays of light will be reflected directly in front of the 'observation tube without -shinin in the eyes of The upper en of the observation tube is provided with an adjustable eye-piece 18 whereby the device may be adusted to accommodate the Vision of the user. In order to ermit the air in the casing of the search l1ght,-a' vent duct or tube 19 is'arranged on. the body or observation tube 17 of the device and providedat its upper end with a valve 20 for permitting a free interchange of air between the casing and the atmosphere. p

The lamps 21 in the present instance are arranged in groups connected in multiple circuit by conductors 22 and 23 respectively and these conductors are connected with a flexible cord conductor 24 that is provided with a switch 25 whereby one or both groups of lamps can be used at a time, ac

cordmg to the clearness of the water, and on the end of the conductor '25 is a coupling plug 26 of ordinary form. The observation tube 17 may be provided with handlesfor assisting in conveniently using the device.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. A device of the class described, comprising a handle, rappling members supporteu on the hand e at one end, means operative from the opposite end of the hand e for actuating the members, a li-ht fixed on the handle and movable therewith to an desired depth and for throwing the rays of ight in any direction for locating the object to be gripped by the members, and a water-tight casing on the handle and surrounding the light and serving to impart buoyancy tothe evice.

, 2. A device of the class described com rising a rod-like handle which is adapted to be lowered into the water to an desired depth, grappling members on the ower end of the handle, meansconnected with the members and operated at the opposite end of the handle for actuating the members, a

submersible li hten the handle and movable therewith, and means located on the handle at sf point above the light for shading the rays of light from the eyes of the user.

3. -A' portable device adapted to be lowered into a body of water of any desired depth and to be pointed in any direction in the water, said device comprising asupport,

a grappling means on the support, .a casing y fixed on the support and a li and arranged to throw the rays downwardly forexploring the bottom of the body of water for the object to' be picked up by the grap pling means.

prising a supporting member, grappling of light arranged in fixed relation to the said means and mounted on and movable with the member, and a water-tight casing mounted on the handle and containing the light, said member being inflexible for permitting it to be moved through a body of water or employing the light for exploring.

purposes and for lighting the object to be;

90 5. A devrceof the class described compicked up by the grappling means.

prising a handle, a water-ti ht casing fixed on the handle,'lights in t e casing, conductors housed in the handle, grappling means on the handle in front of the casing,

said casing serving to direct the rays of light t in the casing 4 A device of the class described com-- means movable with the member, a source toward the said means and for shading therays from the eyes of the operator.

n testimony whereof, I afiix my signature I I in presence of two witnesses.

. ALBERT L. FARR.

' Witnesses: j

ETTA S. CARTER, FLORA E. HOWARD: 

